Vehicle crankcase drain plug with remote operator



Nov. 11, 1969 e. w. SCHOSSOW 3,477,459

VEHICLE CRANKCASE DRAIN PLUG WITH REMOTE OPERATOR F iled June 20, 1967 IN VEN TOR.

,4rzm/vir United States Patent US. Cl. 137-351 6 Claims ABSTRACT or THE DISCLOSURE A self-closing dual valve assembly in a plug for draining oil from an internal combusion engine and a remote control mechanism for operating said valve.

This invention relates to a new valve assembly as a substitute for a crankcase drain plug, which assembly has a remote valve operator. H

Previous to my invention various valve structures have been incorporated in a fitting adapted to be received in the drain opening of a crankcase, orcrankcase pans have been specifically designed to include a remotely operated valve. The fittings, however, generally hung below the crankcase to an extent that such structures would be unsuitable on present-day vehicles as .they would be subjected todamage and-displacement, the result of which would be considerable damage to the engine. Internally, the design of engine crankcases has changed, which also makes some previously known fittings unusable. I

The present invention, overcomes these dangers and disadvantages by providing a dual valve in a small plug. The present invention atfordsa completely safe self-closing crankcase plug, yet one which makes an oil change facile. I

A recent UPI news release reported a survey, conducted by MacMillan Ring-Free Oil Co., stating that nearly 20 percent of all oil changes are made by the car owner in his own garage. It further states that nearly one-third of these car bulls doing their own oil changing are women. V

The present invention provides a dual self-closing valve assembly disposed within a housing, the silhouette of which is similar to that of an ordinary oil plug threadably received in the crankcase of all cars today. A remotely operated valve operating member fits about the valve housing and may have an operating handle placed in any convenient location under the hood or Within the car to operate the valve, saving the need for a hoist or to crawl beneath the car to remove the drain plug.

These and other features and advantages will become more apparent after reading the following detailed description which refers to the accompany drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a remotely controlled crankcase valve assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in the closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 but showing the valve in open position;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the valve assembly of FIGURE 1 and a fragmentary portion of the operator;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom view of the valve assembly and a fragmentary portion of the operator; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in crosssection a fragment of a crankcase pan 6 for an internal combustion engine, reinforced as at 7 about at opening 8 located in a lowermost part of the pan, which opening permits the oil therein to drain from the pan.

-A crankcase valve assembly 9, constructed in accordance with the present invention, comprises a valve body or housing 11 having a hexagonal head 12 and a cylindrical externally-threaded shank 13 which is formed with centrally positioned, axially opposed bores or chambers 14 and 16 joined by a small boredpassage 17. Slidably fitted within the passage 17, which is preferably circular in cross-section (see FIGURE 5) and which has a reduced diameter, is a valve plunger 19. The plunger 19 is cylindrical and is formed at one end with a reduced-diameter, threaded,axially-extending stem 21 and is otherwise generally hollow at its other end. A flange 22, at said other end, encircles the open end of the hollow cylinder, which hollow forms a central cylindrical drainage bore 23. The cylindrical walls of the plunger 19 are formed with apertures 24 and 25 which have an axial length preferably less than the axial length of passage 17 and which are positioned intermediate the length of the plunger 19. The plunger 19 is the only moving part of the valve. t

The flange 22 of the plunger 19 has a shape to fit and conforms to the inner walls of the chamber 14, which chamber has a circular cross-section. When the flange 22 is flush with the surface of the head 12, the apertures 24 and 25 are disposed within the passage 17 or slightly within the chamber 14. The passage 17 and apertures 24 and 25 form one valve. A helical and conical compression spring 27 is disposed in chamber 14 to bias the flange 22 toward a position flush with the head 12 to normally close communication between chamber 16 and bore 23. To prevent the spring 27 from moving the plunger 19 beyond a position flush with the face of head 12, another flange is formed on or secured to the plunger 19 to seal the open end of chamber 16. As illustrated, the other flange 28 is a thin washer threaded onto the stem 21 and locked thereto by a nut 29, threaded onto the same stem. Flange 28 is circular and is chamfered on the lower surface 30* thereof to tightly seal or seat with the housing 11 around the open end of enlarged chamber 16.

The flange 28 thus forms an obturating seal or second valve which seals the upper open end of chamber 16 when the flange 22 is in its normal position, such that any fluid in the pan 6 cannot drain out through opening 8 or the valve assembly. To allow drainage, the valve plunger 19 need only be moved against the bias of spring 27 to open the obturating valve and move the apertures 24 and 25 to a position beyond the walls of passage 17 into communication with the now open chamber 16, and fluid can flow into chamber 16, through apertures 24 and 25, down through the bore 23 and out its open end.

A suitable operator is provided to manipulate the valve and, as illustrated, preferably connects to the valve housing such as not to materially increase its silhouette. The operator illustrated comprises a flexible wire cable 31, generally known as a Bowden wire cable, secured at one end to a sleeve 32, Which sleeve is secured by a threadably connected nut 33 and shouldered sleeve 34 to a mounting bracket 36. The bracket 36 permits mounting of the sleeve to any frame or support on the automobile. Extending into the sleeve 32 is a plunger 37 which has a handle 38 on its external end and which is connected to the wire 39 of the Bowden wire cable 31 at its other end. Pulling force on handle 38 will thus draw the wire 39 through the cable 31 which is connected at its other end to a shell 41 supporting a cam 42 which is moved by the wire 39 to operate the valve plunger 19. In the illustrated device the shell 41 is hexagonal and fits about the head 12 but may have other shapes. Ears 43 on the shell 41 are secured by suitable fasteners to a washer 45 through which projects the shank 13 of the valve housing. The washer 45 serves to seal the housing to the crankcase pan 6 and may be rotated to any desired position before finally tightening the housing into the opening 8. The fasteners illustrated are tongues on the washer 45 which project through slots in the ears 43 and are bent to secure the washer 45 and shell 41 together.

Shell 41 has an opening 46 positioned to communicate with the bore 23 in the valve plunger 19 but small enough to interfere with the flange 22 such that loss of the flange 28 would not allow the plunger 19 to fall from the assembly. Similarly, loss or displacement of the shell 41 does not destroy effectiveness of the valve since the flange 28 holds the valve in closed position through the bias of the spring 27. The shell 41 has a crimped sleeve 47 to secure the Bowden wire cable thereto and a pair of ears 48 and 49 which support a rod 51 pivotally mounting the cam 42. As illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, the cam 42 is U-shaped and is pivoted to place the legs thereof on each side of the bore 23 to engage the face of the flange 22. A pull exerted on the wire 39 rotates the cam 42 about 90 degrees and sets the cam to open the valves and move the bight portion of the cam member from over the bore 23. Pushing the wire 39 by handle 38 returns the cam to a position allowing spring 27 to close the valves.

The assembly of the present invention can be installed with ordinary tools such as a wrench and screw driver. All components of the valve assembly are within the housing and protected.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-closing dual valve assembly for use in the crankcase drain opening of an internal combustion engine, said valve comprising a drain plug-shaped hollow housing, adapted to be received threadably in the drain opening of a crankcase, and comprising a head, an integral externallythreaded shank, and means defining said hollow to form an enlarged chamber in said head, an enlarged chamber in said shank and a smaller cylindrical passageway connecting said chambers,

a generally cylindrical valve plunger slidably fitted in said passageway and comprising a. hollow cylindrical member having one open end portion, a closed end, a chamfered valve flange at the closed end, and means defining at least one opening intermediate said ends in the wall portion of said cylindrical member, said valve flange secured to said closed end portion and having a closed position seating with the end of the shank sealing the open end of said enlarged chamber in said shank when said plunger is positioned with said at least one opening covered in said passageway and an open position with said at least one opening in said enlarged chamber in said shank,

means disposed in the chamber in said head for applying force to said valve plunger for biasing said valve plunger to said closed position, and

operating means aflixed to said housing for moving said .4 valve plunger against the biasing means to an open position.

2. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said operating means comprises cam means supported by said housing for moving said plunger against said biasing means, and a remotely controlled operator connected to said cam means to operate the same to move said plunger. 3. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means includes an outwardly projecting flange secured about said hollow end portion of the plunger which flange is received in said chamber in said head, and a compression spring disposed within said chamber in said head and bearing against said outwardly projecting flange. 4. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said operating means comprises cam means engageable with said outwardly projecting flange, means fitting the head of said housing for supporting said cam means, and a remote operator connected to said cam means to move the same and said plunger to open position allowing flow through said housing and said plunger. 5. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said remote operator includes a flexible wire cable and manually operable means for moving the wire of said cable.

6. A valve assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means fitting the head of said housing comprises a shell supporting said cam for pivotal movement, said shell having a shape to fit said head and to position said operator at various positions relative to the housing to afford adjustment of the location of said manually operable means for said table.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,957,736 5/1934 Strehler 137-351 2,655,932 10/1953 Lipman 25 l339 XR 2,657,705 11/1953 Gerhard et a1. 137351 2,745,628 5/1956 Carlson 251-339 XR 3,103,947 9/1963 Mueller 137351 3,119,406 1/1964 Hartung 137-351 3,327,760 6/1967 Crawford 137351 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,401 7/1956 Canada.

SAMUEL SCOTT, Primary Examiner 

